The sovereign state of Paraduin came into existence on 1 April 2015 by satisfying the Montevideo criteria. It consists of two areas: a house in Rotterdam, formerly part of The Netherlands, and a patch of uninhabited land on the Danube, known as Siga or Gornja Siga. This includes a river island.

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The '''Sovereign State of Paraduin''' (''parallel [[dunya|world]]'') is a [[micronation]] established 1 April 2015 as a [[monarchy]] by [[Guido den Broeder|Prince Ogidius]] (''[[Dutch (language)|Dutch]]: Prins Ogidius'').<ref name=Paraduin />

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==Rotterdam==

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It consists of two areas: a house in [[Rotterdam]], and a patch of land on the [[Danube]], known as [[Siga]].<ref name=WarandPeace /> The nation's activities are mainly [[Culture|cultural]].<ref name=Cultuur />

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The house in Rotterdam, residence and property of the prince, was claimed as part of Paraduin on 1 April 2015. According to Prince Ogidius, who is suffering from the debilitating neuroimmune disease myalgic encephalomyeltis, international law gave him the right to secede from The Netherlands after he was denied welfare and the Dutch court refused to hear his case. This left him without means to survive. Although ME has been recognized by the WHO as early as 1969, its existence is still denied by the Dutch government. Many patients have no or little income.

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==Siga==

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==Location==

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Siga's status became disputed after Yugoslavia fell apart and the new republics of Croatia and Serbia could not agree on the location of their border. According to Serbia, the current location of the Danube is where the border lies, while Croatia claims it's where the river used to run on an earlier date. As a consequence, some larger areas on the left bank of the river (the Serbian side) are claimed by both macronations, while both nations claim that a few smaller pockets of land on the right bank (the Croatian side) belong to the other.

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The territorial claim of Paraduin consists of two distinct locations. The [[administrative centre]] is a house within the borders of the city of [[Rotterdam]], [[Netherlands]]. The second location, [[Siga]], is an uninhabited parcel of contested land on the right bank of the [[Danube]] between [[Croatia]] and [[Serbia]], which neither of them covets.<ref name=Paraduin>[http://www.paraduin.nl/paraduin "Paraduin"], Paraduin (retrieved 21 June 2017)</ref>

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One view is that these smaller pockets, of which Siga is the largest, became a ''terra nullius'' to be claimed by anyone. Paraduin was the first of several micronations to do so, on 5 March 2015, before it even had established itself as a sovereign state. The macronations Serbia and Croatia maintain that Siga did not become a terra nullius, but is disputed land that will some day belong to one of them, depending on the outcome of negotiations. In 2015, no negotations were taking place.

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===Rotterdam===

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The house in Rotterdam, not far from the river [[Rotte (river)|Rotte]], is the residence and property of the prince. According to Prince Ogidius, who is suffering from the debilitating neuroimmune disease [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]], international law gave him the right to secede from the Netherlands after he was denied [[welfare]] and the Dutch court refused to hear his case. This left him without means to survive.<ref>[http://www.mevereniging.nl/rotterdam-weigert-bijstand-aan-voorzitter-me-vereniging/ "Rotterdam weigert bijstand aan voorzitter ME Vereniging"] (Dutch) (''"Rotterdam denies welfare to chairman ME Vereniging"''), ME Vereniging Nederland, 13 juli 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.paraduin.nl/2015/07/01/weg-uit-nederland/ Weg Uit Nederland] (Dutch) (''"Gone from The Netherlands"''), Paraduin Nieuws, 1 July 2015</ref> Although ME has been recognized by the [[World Health Organization]] as early as 1969, its existence is still denied by the Dutch government.<ref>"Gezondheidsraad aan zet voor ME" (Dutch) (''"Health Council to deal with ME"''), in: DeHersenen.com, "De Hersenen. En hoe ze (met) ons veranderen" (Dutch) (''"The brain. And how it changes (with) us"''), MediaPlanet, September 2015</ref> Many patients have no or little income, and 25% wish to leave the country.<ref>Guido den Broeder, [http://www.mevereniging.nl/PDF/20150909_STMER_DEPME_Overzicht_2012-2014.pdf ''"Doorlopende Enquête Patiëntenperspectief onder de leden van de ME Vereniging Nederland. Eerste Cyclus, overzicht 2012-2014"''] (Dutch) (''"Continuous Patient Perspective Survey among the members of the ME Vereniging Nederland"''), Stichting ME Research, 9 September 2015</ref>

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A would-be micronation named Liberland tried to occupy the land but these attempts were thwarted with the aid of the Croatian police. Representatives of Liberland got detained and fined, and they are denied access. Tourists, however, are allowed to visit Siga. Part of the land is privately owned by a logging company.

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===Siga===

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[[File:Croatia Serbia border Backa Baranja.png|thumb|250px|Siga is the largest green-colored pocket of contested territory. The yellow-colored areas to the east are claimed by both [[Serbia]] and [[Croatia]]. According to Croatia the green parts belong to Serbia, while Serbia states they are Croatia's.]]

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==Population==

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Siga's status became disputed after [[Yugoslavia]] fell apart and the new independent states of Croatia and Serbia could not agree on the location of their border. According to Serbia, the current location of the Danube is where the border lies, while Croatia claims it's where the river used to run at an earlier date. As a consequence, some larger areas on the left bank of the river are claimed by both macronations, while each maintains that a few smaller pockets of land on the right bank belong to the other.<ref name=WarandPeace>Mladen Klemenčić, Clive H. Schofield, [https://www.dur.ac.uk/ibru/publications/download/?id=218 ''"War and Peace on the Danube. The Evolution of the Croatia-Serbia Boundary"''], Boundary and Territory Briefing 3(3), 2001, IBRU, Durham University, UK, ISBN 1-897643-41-1</ref>

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The nation counts citizens living within as well as outside its borders.

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One view is that these smaller pockets, of which Siga with about 7 km<sup>2</sup><ref name=WarandPeace /> is the largest, became [[terra nullius]] to be claimed by anyone. Paraduin was the first of several micronations to do so. The macronations Serbia and Croatia maintain that Siga did not become a terra nullius, but is disputed land that will some day belong to one of them, depending on the outcome of negotiations.<ref name=Chicago>Gabriel Rossman, [http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cjil/vol17/iss1/10 "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (But Still So Far): Assessing Liberland’s Claim of Statehood"], Chicago Journal of International Law 17(1):10, 2016</ref>

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Siga includes a [[floodplain]] forest, known locally as Gornja Siga (Upper Siga), and a [[River island|river isle]], Siga Szeget (Siga Island). The area is uninhabited, and international [[Treaty|treaties]] regarding the Danube require it to keep its [[Ecology|ecological]] function. Part of the land is privately owned by a [[logging]] company, while the beach and the sandy river island allow for occasional [[tourism]].<ref name=AutisticState>[http://www.paraduin.nl/siga "Siga"], Paraduin (retrieved 21 June 2017)</ref><ref>[http://autisticstate.prophpbb.com/topic41.html "Trip report to Siga and Statement on Liberland"], Autistic State. Official forum for the Confederation of Âûtia, 26 April 2015</ref>

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==History==

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Although Paraduin claimed Siga on 5 March 2015,<ref>Ogidius, [http://www.paraduin.nl/2015/03/05/paraduin-claims-terra-nullius-siga "Paraduin Claims Terra Nullius Siga"], Paraduin Nieuws,5 March 2015</ref> the micronation's official founding day is 1 April 2015, when it added the Rotterdam headquarters and called itself a [[Sovereignty|sovereign]] [[State (polity)|state]]. With permanent residence guaranteed, the nation presumes to satisfy the [[Montevideo Convention|Montevideo criteria]] for statehood,<ref>Ogidius, [http://www.paraduin.nl/2015/04/01/paraduin-claimt-nederlands-grondgebied "Paraduin Claimt Nederlands Grondgebied"] (Dutch) (''"Paraduin Claims Dutch Territory"''), Paraduin Nieuws, 1 April 2015</ref>, a right reserved to the first entity to make claim.<ref name=Chicago />

The [[Principality of Ongal]] claims the remaining, smaller pieces of disputed territory on the Danube's right bank, about 1,5 km<sup>2</sup> in total.<ref name=Glas /><ref>[https://micronations.wiki/wiki/Principality_of_Ongal "Principality of Ongal"], Micronations Wiki (retrieved 21 June 2017)</ref>

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In October 2015, Liberland was heavily criticized for demanding a fee of € 10,000 from [[Syria]]n [[refugee]]s to settle in Siga. Prince Ogidius replied that Paraduin would welcome the refugees for free, but that the area lacked the necessary infrastructure. The author of the article describes Liberland as an outcast among micronations.<ref>Chris Roth, [http://springtimeofnations.blogspot.nl/2015/10/liberlands-empty-promises-to-syrian.html "Liberland’s Empty Promises to Syrian Refugees Scorned by Other Micronations"], Springtime of Nations, 7 October 2017</ref>

Paraduin is mainly a [[Culture|cultural]] nation. Ongoing activities include the administration of the free [[online encyclopedia]] [[Wikisage]], with versions in [[Dutch (language)|Dutch]] and [[English (language)|English]], and the writing and promotion of a [[novel]] called [[Bellerophon]] and other stories that play on a [[parallel world]], also named Paraduin.<ref name=Cultuur>[http://www.paraduin.nl/cultuur Cultuur], Paraduin (retrieved 20 June 2017)</ref> June 2017, The Dutch version of Wikisage contained over 42,000 articles.<ref>[http://nl.wikisage.org/wiki/Hoofdpagina Wikisage Hoofdpagina] (Dutch), Wikisage (retrieved 20 June 2017)</ref>

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In December 2016, Paraduin announced its participation in a [[film]] project, the [[horror thriller]] ''[[The Russian Bride]]'', starring [[Kristina Pimenova]], [[Oksana Orlan]] and [[Corbin Bernsen]], directed by [[Michael S. Ojeda]]. The micronation is represented by an [[executive producer]].<ref>Ogidius, [http://www.paraduin.nl/2016/12/04/paraduin-participant-kristina-pimenova-film "Paraduin Participant in Kristina Pimenova Film"], Paraduin Nieuws, 4 December 2016</ref> [[Filmmaking|Production]] on location was carried out in March 2017 at the [[Scripps Mansion]] in [[Lake Orion, Michigan]].<ref>Ogidius, [http://www.paraduin.nl/2017/03/01/filming-the-russian-bride-to-take-place-march "Filming of The Russian Bride to take place in March"], Paraduin Nieuws, 1 March 2017</ref><ref>Jonathan Barkan, [https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/219696/filming-begins-russian-bride-weve-got-exclusive-photos/ "Filming Begins on The Russian Bride and We’ve Got Exclusive Photos"], Dread Central, 22 March 2017</ref><ref>Brad Miska, [http://bloody-disgusting.com/indie/3429201/avenged-director-battles-russian-bride/ "‘Avenged’ Director Battles ‘The Russian Bride’!!"], Bloody Disgusting, 22 March 2017</ref>

The constitution furthermore establishes the nation as a [[monarchy]], with Ogidius as its first ruler. The ruler's title is [[Prince]] (or Princess) of Paraduin, but the ruler is also considered a citizen. Although the legal power of the monarch is in every other aspect [[Absolute monarchy|absolute]], the right to fair treatment is [[Natural and legal rights|unalienable]]. Other constitutional rights can only be limited if fair treatment requires it.<ref>[http://www.paraduin.nl/constitutie Constitutie], Paraduin, 1 April 2015</ref>

The constitution furthermore establishes the nation as a [[monarchy]], with Ogidius as its first ruler. The ruler's title is [[Prince]] (or Princess) of Paraduin, but the ruler is also considered a citizen. Although the legal power of the monarch is in every other aspect [[Absolute monarchy|absolute]], the right to fair treatment is [[Natural and legal rights|unalienable]]. Other constitutional rights can only be limited if fair treatment requires it.<ref>[http://www.paraduin.nl/constitutie Constitutie], Paraduin, 1 April 2015</ref>

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==Economy==

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==See also==

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Paraduin is mainly a [[Culture|cultural]] nation. Ongoing activities include the administration of the free [[online encyclopedia]] [[Wikisage]], with versions in [[Dutch (language)|Dutch]] and [[English (language)|English]], and the writing and promotion of a [[novel]] called [[Bellerophon]] and other stories that play on a [[parallel world]], also named Paraduin.<ref name=Cultuur>[http://www.paraduin.nl/cultuur Cultuur], Paraduin (retrieved 20 June 2017)</ref> June 2017, The Dutch version of Wikisage contained over 42,000 articles.<ref>[http://nl.wikisage.org/wiki/Hoofdpagina Wikisage Hoofdpagina] (Dutch), Wikisage (retrieved 20 June 2017</ref>

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* [[Eurostaete]]

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* [[Neutral Moresnet]]

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In December 2016, Paraduin announced its participation in a [[film]] project, the [[horror thriller]] ''[[The Russian Bride]]'', starring [[Kristina Pimenova]], [[Oksana Orlan]] and [[Corbin Bernsen]], directed by [[Michael S. Ojeda]]. The micronation is represented by an [[executive producer]].<ref>Ogidius, [http://www.paraduin.nl/2016/12/04/paraduin-participant-kristina-pimenova-film "Paraduin Participant in Kristina Pimenova Film"], Paraduin Nieuws, 4 December 2016</ref> [[Filmmaking|Production]] on location was carried out in March 2017 at the [[Scripps Mansion]] in [[Lake Orion, Michigan]].<ref>Ogidius, [http://www.paraduin.nl/2017/03/01/filming-the-russian-bride-to-take-place-march "Filming of The Russian Bride to take place in March"], Paraduin Nieuws, 1 March 2017</ref><ref>Jonathan Barkan, [https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/219696/filming-begins-russian-bride-weve-got-exclusive-photos/ "Filming Begins on The Russian Bride and We’ve Got Exclusive Photos"], Dread Central, 22 March 2017</ref><ref>Brad Miska, [http://bloody-disgusting.com/indie/3429201/avenged-director-battles-russian-bride/ "‘Avenged’ Director Battles ‘The Russian Bride’!!"], Bloody Disgusting, 22 March 2017</ref>

Rotterdam

The house in Rotterdam, not far from the river Rotte, is the residence and property of the prince. According to Prince Ogidius, who is suffering from the debilitating neuroimmune disease myalgic encephalomyelitis, international law gave him the right to secede from the Netherlands after he was denied welfare and the Dutch court refused to hear his case. This left him without means to survive.[4][5] Although ME has been recognized by the World Health Organization as early as 1969, its existence is still denied by the Dutch government.[6] Many patients have no or little income, and 25% wish to leave the country.[7]

Siga

Siga is the largest green-colored pocket of contested territory. The yellow-colored areas to the east are claimed by both Serbia and Croatia. According to Croatia the green parts belong to Serbia, while Serbia states they are Croatia's.

Siga's status became disputed after Yugoslavia fell apart and the new independent states of Croatia and Serbia could not agree on the location of their border. According to Serbia, the current location of the Danube is where the border lies, while Croatia claims it's where the river used to run at an earlier date. As a consequence, some larger areas on the left bank of the river are claimed by both macronations, while each maintains that a few smaller pockets of land on the right bank belong to the other.[2]

One view is that these smaller pockets, of which Siga with about 7 km2[2] is the largest, became terra nullius to be claimed by anyone. Paraduin was the first of several micronations to do so. The macronations Serbia and Croatia maintain that Siga did not become a terra nullius, but is disputed land that will some day belong to one of them, depending on the outcome of negotiations.[8]

Siga includes a floodplain forest, known locally as Gornja Siga (Upper Siga), and a river isle, Siga Szeget (Siga Island). The area is uninhabited, and international treaties regarding the Danube require it to keep its ecological function. Part of the land is privately owned by a logging company, while the beach and the sandy river island allow for occasional tourism.[9][10]

History

Although Paraduin claimed Siga on 5 March 2015,[11] the micronation's official founding day is 1 April 2015, when it added the Rotterdam headquarters and called itself a sovereignstate. With permanent residence guaranteed, the nation presumes to satisfy the Montevideo criteria for statehood,[12], a right reserved to the first entity to make claim.[8]

Several other micronations intended to acquire Siga, specifically South Maudlandia (18 March),[13]Liberland (13 April),[14][15] and Âûtia (17 April),[9][16] but arrived later.[17] A flag ceremoniously raised by representatives of Liberland was removed within days.[18], which led some journalists to expect 'the world's smallest war'.[19][20][21][22][23] New attempts by Liberland representatives to access the area were thwarted by the Croatian police.[24]

In October 2015, Liberland was heavily criticized for demanding a fee of € 10,000 from Syrianrefugees to settle in Siga. Prince Ogidius replied that Paraduin would welcome the refugees for free, but that the area lacked the necessary infrastructure. The author of the article describes Liberland as an outcast among micronations.[26]

The constitution furthermore establishes the nation as a monarchy, with Ogidius as its first ruler. The ruler's title is Prince (or Princess) of Paraduin, but the ruler is also considered a citizen. Although the legal power of the monarch is in every other aspect absolute, the right to fair treatment is unalienable. Other constitutional rights can only be limited if fair treatment requires it.[32]